Prison Diary of Pvt. Edward S. Wells, 128^th New York

    At the start of the Civil War, 38-year-old Edward S. Wells[1] of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., joined the 20^th New York State Militia and served as a sergeant. After two years of fighting Edward was discharged for disability, a common occurrence during the Civil War.[2]

    In January of 1864, after a year of rest and recovery, the battle-hardened Edward mustered into the 128^th New York State Volunteer Infantry as a private. In July the regiment, or what was left of them, having lost many men to disease and fighting since their start in the autumn of 1862, moved back to the Washington area and then into the Shenandoah Valley. Here they would join Gen. Phillip Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah and Wells would see his first fighting with the 128^th.

    In the Valley, the 128^th fought first at the Battle of the Opequon or Third Winchester; the Confederates were beaten and chased south “up” the valley. Several days later there was another major engagement at Fisher’s Hill and again the rebels were beaten and pursued still further south.

    The Union Army gave chase for a considerable distance with the cavalry doing most of the fighting. When Sheridan felt the Confederates had been pushed sufficiently south and were no longer a threat, he then turned the army about and proceeded to carry out the second part of the plan, to lay waste to the Valley.

    Moving north “down” the Valley, the Union troops burned crops, food, barns and anything else that might be useful to the Confederate army. The Rebels stayed close at heel. When the Army reached the northern end of the Valley just over Cedar Creek, they encamped awaiting next steps from the leadership. Sheridan left the Army here while he went to Washington to discuss plans with General Grant. The 128^th New York was encamped on the north side of Cedar Creek just off the main north-south route, the Valley Pike. Being in this position, the 128^th was the regiment to have many men stationed as advanced pickets on the other side of Cedar Creek some distance out on the pike, guarding the approach. 

    Confederate Gen. John Brown Gordon was able to devise a plan whereby the Confederates would leave behind everything that might make noise, and at night march around the base of a nearby mountain, cross the Shenandoah and attack the Union Army at first light. The Rebel’s main attack fell on the left flank at approximately 5 a.m. with smaller thrusts at the center and on the right. The morning of Oct. 19, 1864, was chilly and foggy; the majority of the soldiers were still sleeping when the attack began.  

    The 128^th being on the Pike was off to the right side of the main attack. The loud shock of the assault on their left startled the pickets and left them wondering what was going on; very shortly after this bullets started flying at them. The men began to return fire but realizing they had no support and that they were quickly being cut off from any chance of escape they ran for the bridge. Many of the men made it back across but a majority of them were caught. Edward Wells was one of the unfortunate men.  

    The fight continued on with the Confederates routing the Union Army in the morning attack. The boys in blue retreated a mile or so and began to reform and regroup. The Confederates slowed their chase, taking time to stop and plunder the well-stocked Union camps.

    Meanwhile the Union General Sheridan, who’d been asleep in Winchester, gallantly raced to rejoin his army. Once there, Sheridan rallied his troops, attacked and retook the camps lost in the morning fight. The Confederates were routed and once again chased south on the Valley Pike. 

    Unfortunately for those Union prisoners captured in the morning fighting, including the men of the 128^th, the Union army never caught up to them. After capture the prisoners were marched right away south up the Valley Pike. They marched nearly 90 miles to Staunton, Va., where they boarded trains for Richmond.

    There the men were taken to Libby Prison. For the most part, higher ranking officers remained here and were shortly paroled while the men of the ranks were taken still further south to Salisbury Prison in North Carolina. Here they remained for close to five months until Feb. 22, 1865, at which time they were released.

    The diary of Edward Wells picks up with the 128^th around the April 1864 time frame when he sailed south and joined the unit in Louisiana. Entries are short and concise. The early portions of the diary from April until his capture at Cedar Creek have grown faint with time and are now difficult to read.

    An early caretaker of the diary, perhaps Edward’s wife, transcribed the later portion that covered Edward’s capture, imprisonment and release. This transcription was done within the original diary.

    Eventually the diary was passed down to descendant Jim Elliman. With the help and efforts of Julie Bright, a genealogist and researcher, and Seward Osborne, a Civil War historian and researcher, the original author was identified and the work further transcribed and preserved. The record of Edward’s final months of life is documented on the following pages.

October 1864

18^th Went on picket

 

19^th Captured before daylight with 1200 others. Stripped. Marched to rear 30 miles

 

20^th to Mount Jackson. Marched. Rations for 3 days 1 pt flour, fresh meat, 1 hard tack

 

21^st to Mount Crawford

 

22^nd Marched to Staunton. Took cars to Richmond. Arrived 23^rd at 11 o’clock-Sunday

24^th Got rations. Corn, bacon, meat

 

25^th Left for Salisbury NC 3 o’clock with 1 days rations corn, bread, codfish-arrived at Danville 8am 140 miles.

 

26^th at Salisbury Prison in a rain--cheerless and starving turned into a pen like cattle. Oh, my first night in this horrible place. Nothing to eat-too wet to build a fire, a guard anxious for the first pretext to shoot you down-stripped of everything that might give comfort-the night passed somehow-only one man found dead in the morning.

 

27^th A.M. Half a loaf of bread. P.M. had some rice soup

 

28^th & 29^th The most acute suffering from hunger and finger numbness-dying daily and no prospect of relief.

 

30 A holy Sabbath day in prison. A week since we arrived at Libby-would that we were back again, and we thought that hard enough. Would I could fly and be with you. Will I ever see or hear from you again?

 

31 A very cold night-but tents were given in part. Too cold to sleep however. A number escaped ___________, ___________,  ___________ shot.[3]

 

 

November 1864 

1^st Starvation and a rain. Horrors.

 

2 Raining-starved

 

3 Raining-starved and Earl[4] died at midnight

 

4 Clear and cold P.M. commenced to rain. Very cold.

Reports of parole

 

5 Clear and cold. Rainy night. No Salt

 

6 Recruiting. Two men killed

 

7 Holy Sabbath. Clear and cold. Many thoughts of home.[5]

 

8 Starvation again-1/2 pt rice water. Rally on. Hospital bread. Rainy

 

9 Clear in the evening. Bread first in 6 days. Dizzy

 

10 Pleasant day. Fresh bread again. Very course. Rainy night. More news of parole.

 

11 Feast-1/2 pt soup-meat and bread. Pleasant but cold. Reported fall of Petersburg. Rumors of a raid. Heaven help them reach here. Major relieved and Lt. Col. Took command

12 An improvement in fare. How long will it last.

 

13 Frozen last night by cold. Sunday A.M. seemed more like it than anything in a long time. Heard church bells. News of parole. Very cold tonight. John Ramsen[6] died.

 

14 Various reports of parole.

 

15 Cold and pleasant

 

16 Pleasant and moderate. High hopes of exchange.

17 No sleep in second night. Liked to smoke to death. Pleasant and warm.

 

18 Pleasant-talk of parole.

 

19 Rainy-almost blind. Dreary day. Rebel whipped One month of capture. Meat

 

20 Sunday What a day. Gloomy gloomy gloomy. Three men shot for being sick. Awful night.

21 Rain continues.

 

22 Rainy morning. Windy A.M. Freezing Awful night of suffering.

 

23 Sun out. Very cold. Froze all day. Oh, what suffering. Poor old soldier

 

24 Nearly frozen but not disheartened. The dead cart has no terrors. Rations cut down to ¼ rations. Terms for enlistment and service as mechanics. Thanksgiving. Home friends are enjoying themselves at home while we are starving.

 

25 Another very cold night A break made at 3 o’clock. Several killed and wounded. Starvation. 5 killed 14 wounded.

 

26 Weather still cold. Bills of mortality increasing. Hopes of parole vanishing.

 

27 Mild, but cloudy. More like Sabbath than I have seen here. Better rations.

 

28 Very mild. ¼ rations

 

29 Mild ¼ rations

 

30 Beautiful. Great deal of weakness. Two men shot for nothing at the cookhouse. Two yesterday at the hospital.  

December 1864 

1 Fine weather. Excitement about exchange ¼ rations. Enlistment’s

 

2 Some hopes of parole Fine weather.  

                        3 Cloudy and cold. Several shot last night  

4 Pleasant. Sabbath. Several shot.

 

5 Cold and cheerless.

 

6 Fresh invoice of prisoners. Recruiting 400-1155. Bill Mackey[7]

 

7 Rain in the morning. Cleared off warm. Rebel deserters pardoned and sent to the front. Rained again at night

 

8 Clear and cold. A lot sick. Several shot

 

9 Cold and cloudy. Commenced hailing. Stormed all night. Very cold.

 

10 three inches of snow and hail. Nine men froze to death. Awful suffering. Rainy night.

 

11 Cheerless Sunday. Windy, cold suffering. Rainy night suffering

 

                        12 Gen. Windar and staff. Cloudy and cold. Fearful mortality. Wheat bread. Very cold again.

 

13 Hazy and cold. Clear. Recruiting 300. Cold night.

 

14 Pleasant, short rations. Fluctuating rumors. Hopes decaying. When will this end. Cold and foggy night

 

15 Weather moderate. Looks like storm. Dreary. Warm night

 

16 Warm and cloudy.

 

17 News of Johnson and Sherman satisfies

 

18 Sunday. Cloudy and warm. Catholic services. Davis Richardson[8] and others skedaddled. Rainy night.

 

19 Warm, windy and changeable. Report of Jeffs death. Rough night.

 

20 Pleasant day, but blew up rain for the night.

 

21 Awful day. Rain and sleet. Confirmation of Davis death. Bitter cold. Two more men died. Robert Palmer[9] and Fred Vieck[10]. Sad.

 

22 Still cold and stormy. Awful cold night.

 

23 Clear and cold. Severe suffering. Rainy night.

 

24 Pleasant and chilly. Sunshine-shooting- Christmas Eve.

 

25 Christmas. Fair and chilly. Home! Home! Home! General B.T. Johnson[11]

 

26 rainy night and dreary, cloudy and warm. No Christmas. A body of Catholics taken out.

 

27 Sun came out P.M. rained all night. J.L. Hadden[12] died.

 

28 rainy and cold. Short rations.

 

29 Rainy until PM sun came out. Very cold night Rained AM.

 

30 Ditto Ditto Ditto

31 Rainy and very cold. Coldest night of the winter.

 

 

January 1865 

1 Clear and very cold. A.R. Clark[13] died at 8:00 am. What a New Years Day. Grant that we may go Lord soon.

 

2 Very cold and stormy. Changeable until the 4^th when it settled down into a storm. Adam Scholl[14] came to sleep with me-both sick. Commenced course of reading on Thursday last.

 

6 Little stormy. Adam died this AM at 8:00 o’clock. Awful weather up to the 11^th when Wm. H. Baker[15] died.

 

12 Pleasant and cold.

 

13 Some warmer but with scanty clothing and fare, much suffering.

 

14 Pleasant. Recruiting 34.

 

15 Mild. Lonely Sabbath. Hopes of rescue

 

16

 

17 Weather same James Brander[16] died.

 

18-20 Stormy. No important events. Trees finally iced.

 

21 Stormy until the 24^th. Cold and clear. Reports of exchange.

 

22 Changeable weather still. James H. Elmendorf of the 156^th died. Weather same.

 

23, 24-28^th Stormy and very cold. J.M. Myers[17] died 27^th.

29^th John Hulman[18] died.

 

30-31 Milder and foggy.

 

 

February 1865 

1 Lonely day.

 

2 Lonely. Turned to rain in the night.

 

4 Cleared up  

5-6 Beautiful turned off cold.  

7 Sleet and snow. Very cold.

 

8 Cleared up. Snow and ice one inch deep.

 

9-12 Monstrous storms. Cold and pleasant. Preaching Baptist Missionary

 

13 Officers from Richmond with clothing.

 

15 Blankets distributed.

 

16 Rainy

 

17 Ditto.

 

18 Blouses and shirts distributed; as few in number as to benefit only a few. Squad from Florence.

 

19 Squad left for Richmond. High hopes about exchange.

 

20 Lonely Sabbath. All excitement about exchange. Two sermons in PM.

 

21 Dull day. Hopes varying.

 

22 Order to get ready for parole. Set feet among the sick outside. Had to lie out all night. 6 died.

 

23 left about AM-Arrived Greensboro midnight. Very tedious passage.

 

24 Lie all day-rainy. Started 6 o’clock arrived at Richmond noon.

 

25 Raining hard. Sent to hospital. Miserable accommodations. Rested better than usual on account of soft bed. Plenty of (?) and fatigue.  

26 Sabbath morning. Four months precisely that I have spent a Sabbath here. What have I not suffered in that time. Sun is shining and I am thinking of loved ones at home. Why, since I am so near my liberation to be with them.

 

27-28 Pleasant and no prospect of getting away. River higher than ever.

 

 

March 1865 

1-9 rain and more detention. Left on trip for Aikens Landing. Arrived at Annapolis.

 

11 Once more free comparatively.  

                        12 Sent to Baltimore. Hateful detention. West’s Hospital. Met Miss Russell accidentally. Nothing transpires of importance.  

17 or 18 Paid two months pay. No prospect of furlough. Sick at heart as well as in body    

  Epilogue

The following note was added to the diary, by whom it is not known, perhaps his wife:

 “He received furlough on March 22nd. Left on 9 P.M. train. Arrived in New York next morning at 7 o’clock. Had been ill five days. Went to Brooklyn, remained until Sat. P.M. 25th. Was moved to Poughkeepsie. Died at 7 o’clock A.M. March 29th”  

Edward Wells pension file indicates that after his death his widow applied for a pension. Within these records the following is found: 

“As per Doctor John R. Cooper of Poughkeepsie, who attended him during his last sickness, Wells died at the City of Poughkeepsie on the twenty-ninth day of March 1865 and that in his opinion his death was caused by starvation and exposure while in the hands of the enemy as a prisoner of war.” 

Edward Wells lies buried in the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Grave #7, Section J, Lot 13, Area 384 close to the Hudson River. His gravestone was righted in 1997, cleaned and restored by his descendant, Jim Elliman. His memorial bears the following inscription: 

“Enlisted in 1861. Captured in Cedar Creek, Va. Oct. 19th 1864. Imprisoned in Salisbury N.C. Endured five weary months of starvation and suffering and died three days after his return home, a victim of rebel inhumanity.”  

 

According the 128th’s regimental history, thirty-one (31) of the eighty-two (82) men imprisoned at Salisbury Prison died in captivity. The ill effects of the devastating treatment and the images of the suffering and deaths of their fellow comrades haunted those who were fortunate to survive for life. In the autumn of 1907, on the anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Creek, veterans of the 128^th regiment dedicated a monument on the battlefield at Cedar Creek.

Appendix A

Period newspaper accounts that tell of Edward Well’s capture, imprisonment and death add to the sorrow of the story. Initially it appears that the citizens of Edward’s hometown along with his wife were under the impression that he was killed in battle. Several months later, just before he would return home, they discover instead that he was still alive and had been taken prisoner of war. Soon after he arrived home however, Edward passed away, leaving his wife to go through the grieving process all over again: 

Rhinebeck Gazette & American Citizen, November 15, 1864

---

Gazette Correspondence

From the 128^th Regiment

---

Headquarters, 128^th, N.Y.V.,

CEDAR CREEK, VA.,

Oct. 22, 1864.

Editor of Rhinebeck Gazette,

Sir – Enclosed please find a copy of those killed, wounded and missing on the eventful and ever to be remembered 19^th of October, 1864.

Perhaps a short sketch of the operations of the day, may prove interesting to your many readers who are interested in us as a Regiment.

On the morning of the 19^th, at 4 o’clock we were standing at arms in line of battle, awaiting the final order to march to front on reconnaissance. Suddenly our ears were treated with yells coming from none other than “Johnnie’s” throats on our left; the left being occupied by the 8^th Army Corps. Volley succeeded volley; varied by the grand accompaniment of screaming shell and grape. This continued for about ten minutes when all sounds of strife ceased as if by magic. Just as we were congratulating ourselves on the “supposed repulse” bullets came flying into our works from the rear and flank. We were flanked and fell back about three miles fighting at every step. Our loss was heavy – twenty one pieces of artillery, as well as all Camp and Garrison Equipage; Reformed near Middletown, and by the most determined efforts on the part of our brave “SHERIDAN”, drove back the enemy; completely routing them and capturing fifty nine pieces of artillery, one hundred and fifty wagons, their ambulance train and about six or seven thousand prisoners. The countless numbers of dead and wounded on the field attests the desperate character of the fight. Our day’s work ended, we lay down after dark hungry, ragged and sad, to think of our comrades gone. The 128^th to the number of 177 enlisted and 5 commissioned, were on advance picket duty and the majority of that number are undoubtedly prisoners, subject to the “tender mercies” of Jeff’s minions.

Capt. Thomas N. Davis handled the regiment in a manner highly satisfactory to us all.

Respectfully,

C. W. MCKOWN

Nominal List of Casualties in the 128^th Regt. N.Y. Vols., during the fight ion October 19^th, 1864.

…

“COMPANY D.”

Private E.S. Welles (sp), killed.

…

 

The Daily Eagle, March 25, 1865

The Dead Come to Life – Some time since Edward Wells, formerly a component in this office, enlisted in the 128th regiment and went forward to the front. After one of the serious fights, which occurred in the Shenandoah Valley, (the memorable 19th of October) Wells was reported as being among the killed. His wife, who resides in this city mourned the loss of her husband and assumed the apparel of a bereaved widow. Judge of her surprise on learning recently that he was not dead, but still existed. He had been taken prisoner and confined in a rebel cell, but was released a few days ago and is now on his way to this city. It is expected he will arrive here today.

 

The Daily Press,  March 27, 1865

Come Home to Die – Edward s. Wells, of this city, a member of the 128th Regiment, who has been held as a prisoner of war for several months in a southern prison, was recently exchanged and arrived at his home in this city noon Saturday last. He was so weak from starvation and exposure that he had to be carried to and from the carriage. Since his arrival he has gradually sank, and his physician says he cannot recover. He has not been able to speak since last night. Mr Wells has passed through several campaigns with the Army of Virginia, with honor to his country and to himself, and once or twice been wounded in the defense of the flag. We hope that he may survive his present illness and speedily get about again. His loss would be deeply mourned by his companions in arms by whom he was loved and respected, and his many friends in this city.”

 

The Daily Eagle, March 27, 1865

EDWARD S. WELLS – This Poughkeepsie hero, of whom we spoke of on Saturday, is now lying dangerously ill at his residency. After being taken prisoner in the Shenandoah he was conveyed to the “hell” in Salisbury, where he was confined for several months, being nearly starved to death. Since his arrival here on Saturday he has been gradually failing, being unable to speak since Sunday evening. Mr. Wells has passed through several campaigns with the army of Virginia and has been wounded several times. The fiendish manner in which he has been treated by rebel officers in command of Salisbury prison may cause his death. We trust, however, that he will rally from his present low condition and come out alright.

 

The Daily Press, March 29, 1865

OBIT – Mr. Edward S. Wells, whose serious illness we have before announced, died about 8 o’clock this morning at his residence in this city. He suffered greatly, but remained conscious up to the time of his death.

 

The Daily Eagle, March 30, 1865

OBITUARY. – After severe suffering Edward S. Wells, of the 128^th Regiment, who arrived in this city on Saturday last, died yesterday. A few hours before his death he was perfectly conscious, and talked quite rational. He seemed to be composed and willing to leave his friends. This is another sacrifice to the fiendish rebel administration.   

Bibliography

Manuscripts

1.      Diary of Edward S. Wells, 1864 – 65, Cared for and transcribed by descendant Jim Elliman. Genealogical research to identify the diary author performed by Julie Bright with assistance from Orin R. Wells and Seward Osbourne. 

Primary Sources

1.      “Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York for the year 1903 -Register of the 128th Regiment of Infantry Serial No. 37”, Oliver A. Quayle, State Legislative Printer, 1904.

2.      Brown, Louis A. “The Salisbury Prison A Case Study of Confederate Military Prisons 1861-1865”. Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1992.

3.      Hanaburgh, David H.  “History 128th N.Y. Vol. Inft. August 1862 - July 1865”. Enterprise Publishing Company Poughkeepsie NY, 1894.

4.      Mahr, Theodore C. “The Battle of Cedar Creek; Showdown in the Shenandoah”. H. E. Howard Inc., 1992.

5.      Osbourne, Seward R. “The Three-Month Service of the 20th New York State Militia April 28 - August 2, 1861”. Longstreet House, Highstown, NJ, 1998.

6.      Richardson, Albert D. “The Field The Dungeon and the Escape”. American Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1865. 

Newspaper Accounts

1.      Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, March 25, 27, 30, 1865

2.      Poughkeepsie Daily Press, March 27, 29, 1865

3.      Rhinebeck Gazette and American Citizen, November 15, 1864